Never did a matinee, where is the best place to buy tickets. Has to be Dec 12 or 13 from the USA. We are 3 ladies 76, 64 and 62. Thanks

Decide what you want to see and go the website of the theatre to book tickets, if they have a matinee. Some theatres have matinee on Wednesdays, some Thursdays, some only Saturdays.
Try ticketmaster or seetickets for an overview of what's on and what's available.

Or go to the ticket booth on Leicester Square and see what they have available on your dates.

thanks

I would go here rather than to Ticketmaster to see what's on:

https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/

index

This site covers the shows, with some reviews, evaluates good and bad seats in theatres, offers packages and in general seems tuned in.

I don't think it really matters much what site you look at; I always go to the theatre's own website for tickets, but often they then send you to a Ticketmaster or other site for booking.

I would always check with the theatre before using an agency like theatremonkey.

I use londontheatre.co.uk all the time -- not to book but for theatre news, reviews, etc.

Re ticketmaster -- you often don't have the choice. Many theatres' own websites will throw you over to UK Ticketmaster when you click 'book tickets'. If you want to avoid that - you can always try booking by phone but that sometimes also sends you to a Ticketmaster phone bank. Some theatres/groups handle their bookings in-house but many use ticketmaster.

BTW -- unless you want a matinee of a blockbuster hit, you really can wait tile you are in London and use the TKTS half price ticket booth/site. Not always half price anymore but typically a nice discount . . . though they also sell full price tickets. If the show you want is full price at TKTS -- I'd head to the theatre and buy in person instead because TKTS does tack on a booking fee.

wait until you get there if you aren't real concerned about seating locations

thanks for all the advise. I think we will wait and go to the theatre.

Strand Palace had concierge service and that's how I bought some tickets.

Later, as I was walking, I happened on a theatre and bought a ticket at the ticket office.

Whether it is ok for you to wait depends on the show. Have you at least looked at the seat availability by doing a dummy trial booking at sites that show you available seat maps?

>>Whether it is ok for you to wait depends on the show.<<

Absolutely -- is it a 'regular' play or musical . . . or is it a block buster? Which show(s) are you considering.